HC Deb 21 July 2000 vol 354 c343W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the tendering process for consultants supplying business information to farmers under the Action Plan for Farming; [131806]

(2) if he will estimate how many farmers will benefit from the business advice announced in the Action Plan for Farming; and if he will make a statement; [131804]

(3) if he will estimate the cost per consultant of supplying advice to farmers through the Small Business Service; [131807]

(4) how many consultants will be employed by the Small Business Service to provide advice specifically to farmers as a result of the announcement in the Action Plan for Farming. [131805]

Ms Hewitt

MAFF's budget for the Farm Business Advice Service in 2000–01 should enable up to 5,000 farmers and growers in England to be helped. It will be for Business Links, which will deliver the service, to decide in the light of local circumstances how many consultants to engage, at what rates and by what tendering process.